Plastic recycling in Amsterdam

Plastics on trial

Plastics such as bottles, tubes, plastic bags, containers and tubs can now all be saved from a fate on the landfill site and be recycled to return for another life as packaging.

Sentenced for reuse

The aim of the trial is to get a better idea of the amount of plastic waste that can be recycled citywide. The collected plastic is not destined to go up in flames, but to be processed into the raw materials for new products. The recycled plastic could be reused as packaging, become part of a car dashboard or mobile phone or even be reborn as a tennis ball or fleece top.

Plastics on a pedestal

A central tenet of reducing environmental pollution is that as little waste as possible is produced and that as much of that waste as possible is reused. Separated collection of glass, paper and textiles already plays a huge role in the fight to save the planet and the Dutch government wants to see local authorities add plastics to the list in 2010.

The Netherlands has set a target of recycling 42% of waste plastic packaging by the end of 2012.

Under the collective name of Nedvang, the business community will foot the bill for the separated collection and recycling. The driving force behind the campaign is that once people realise the importance of recycling plastics, they will be more inclined to actually play their part in reducing pollution.

Don't put out your dirties

It’s important that waste plastics are collected in a transparent sack which residents can pick up at designated places in Amsterdam. But residents can also deposit their waste plastic in a standard (preferably transparent) carrier bag. Grey or black bin bags are not up to the job as waste collectors need to easily be able to see whether the plastic waste is dirtied. ‘Dirtied’ plastic (such as packaging that isn’t completely empty) can cause a glitch in the recycling process.

Putting plastic to the test

Amsterdam is using the trials in the four districts to establish the most effective way of separating and collecting plastic waste. The trials include collection in containers at street level, underground containers that condense the plastic as well as the more traditional house-to-house collection method using the designated transparent sacks. Sample tests suggest that 17% of the waste produced by the average Amsterdam household consists of waste plastic although until now, little research has been carried out into the most effective means of collecting this waste.

During the trial, researchers will record the amount of waste plastic collected in each district. In June 2010, selected Amsterdam residents who took part in the trial will be asked to complete a questionnaire evaluating their initial thoughts on separated plastic recycling.

Easy, efficient and effective

The authorities in each participating district informed residents beforehand about the ins-and-outs of the trial. Although each specific trial could deliver the key to success, the City want to be certain of which method is the most effective. The goal is to find the cheapest, most efficient method of collecting as much plastic as possible in a manner that is straightforward for Amsterdammers. The most effective method will be determined after a trial period of one year.

More information

For more information, check out the leaflet about separated collection distributed in May, go to www.plastic-heroes.nl or call the City of Amsterdam general information hotline: 14020.